Method and machine for inserting airbags in tire casings



Jan. 7, 1930. F, AA 1,743,077

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR INSERTING AIRBAGS IN TIRE CASI NGS Fil Dec. 1;, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 J5 J5 v 5 /fijff I .33 I 4- 1' "l ll I I I '1 l II M 'wm w Z9 6/ null-in: '1 +II J I A? f7 v I l Ii v 20 '1 i g 'u I A; 5 g I a I MM, W 76 X 30 26 li h [H F} l t *1; v r I. ll 2/ I II I 4 INVENTOR 5'40 1 E A7066 ATTORNEY Jan. 7, 1930. F, MAAS 1,743,077

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR INSERIING AIRBAGS I- N TIRE CASINGS Filed Dec. 15, 1924.

7 Sheets-Sheet- 2 INVENTOR 1. 02 F. A7405 E. F. MAAS FOR INSERTING A IRBAGS IN TIRE CASINGS Filed.Dec. 13, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 NVENTOR EL 07 *7 M46? Jan. 7, 1930. FLMAAS 1,743,077

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR INSERTING AIRBAGS IN TIRE CASINGS ile 80- 1 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet- 4 INVENTOR- ,E Jan. 7, 1930. MAAS 1,743,077N

. METHOD AND MACHINE FOR INSER'IING AIRBAGS IN TIRE CASINGS Filed Dec. 13, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet- 5 l NVENTOR 11-20; f. M445 BY I ATTO NE'Y' Jan. 7, 1930.

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR INSERTING AIRBAGS IN TIRE CASINGS E. F. MAAS 1,743,077

Filedpeo. 13, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 [Lo 1 F. M4195 BY Q) I ATTQZEY Jan. 7, 1930. S 1,743,077

METHODAND MACHINE FOR INSERTING AIRBAGS IN TIRE CASINGS Filed 'Dec. 13, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet- 7 l 1'' l {I l I I ATTORN Y the ready Patented Jam 7, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELOV r. males, 01* AKRON, OHIO, nssienoa TO THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER comramr, or AKRON, 01110, A CORPORATION. or QHIO METHOD AND MACHINE FOR INSERTING AIRBAGS 11v TIRE ensures Application filed December 13, 1924. Serial No. 755,775.

coresin pneumatic tire casings.

More specifically, my invention relates to a novel method of and-machinefor contracting pneumatic air cores so as to permit of application thereof -to' pneumatic tire casings of either the core built or flat built type, preparatory to the vulcanization of such-casings.

One object of my invention consists in'providing a novel method of-inserting air bags into pneumatic tire casings of either the core built or flat built type. Another object of my invention consists in providing a novel type of machine for practicing the method referred to. v

In connection with the manufacture. of pneumatic tire casings, it is desirable to vul- .canize the casingswithin a closed metallic an inflated pneumatic core within the casing. In insertingthese cores mold and with into casings of the core built type, it has been customary to manually buckle or indent the pneumatic-core or air bag atone point, and

insert as much of the portion of the core remaining arcuate in form as is possible into the tire casing. Subsequently, the remainder or buckled portion thereof is forced into proper position by striking it with a heavy mallet, or

the like, in the direction of the casing, so as to restore the bag to an annular form. This method of inserting, air undesirable on account of the factthat the bags is particularly relatively heavy bag must be badly buckled so as to form a-sharp crease therein each time it is inserted into a tire casing. Furthermore, after the core is inserted in this manner, it is necessaryto bounce the casing, with the bag insertedtherein, on the floor a number of times in order to insure that the bag is not creased and is properly disposed within the casing. Both of these operations represent, particularly in connection with larges1ze tires, very strenuous work. I I

. One method of tire building consists in building pneumatic tire casings 1n the form of a flat endless band. In order to vulcanize a tire of thistype, it is necessary to first shape it to the desired arcuate cross-sectional contour, and'to subsequently cure it by heating it under pressure within a closed mold.-

Her-etofore, shaped by placing them within a partially closed mold, together with a suitable air bag or core, and, by inflating the bag to the proper degree, thereby forcing the casing into substantially the desired configuration. In order to do-this, it is necessary either to employ a bag of smaller diameter than the ultimate diameter of the tire casing, in which event the bag is unduly stretched, or to employ a bag of the same-diameter as the ultimate diameter of the tire casing, in which event it must be buckled and inserted manual ly,-which results in the placing of greater strains on one portion of the cas1ng and core than on others, owing. to the fact that the core cannot be evenly disposed therein.

My present invention, as employed on flat built pneumatic tire casings, is particularly adapted to be practiced in conjunction with an invention disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 7 55,7 7 2, filed of even date herewith. f

By my invention, I have provided .a method of eliminating these diificulties, a machineforpracticing that method.

For a more thorough understandin of my invention, reference may now beha to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of trated in Fig. 1

Fig- 3 is a plan view of my machine, illustrating' the method-'ofemploying it for the the machine illus-.

purpose of'inserting an air bag within a. fiat built tire casing;

Fig. A is a View somewhat similar to Fig. 3, illustrating a second and last step of inserting an air bag into a fiat built tire casing; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a member adapted to support a tire casing and associated air bag, for use in connection. with my machine when employed for the purpose of inserting air bags into flat built pneumatic tire casing Fig. 6 is a section and' partially in elevation, representfiat built casings have beerif and also.

fragmentary view, partially in.

inga portion of in machine, illustrating one step ofthe metho of contracting an air bag in order to insert itwithin a tire casing of either t Fig. is a fragmentary side elevational view, with parts broken away for the sake of clearness, of a portion of iny-machine repsenting the final step of expelling a flat built .pneumatic tire casing, with a pneumatic core 1 dis osed therein, from my machine; and

ig. 8 is a side view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of a portion of my machine, representing the controlling 'mechanism thereof.

Referring'more particularly to the drawings, I have shown a machine 10 consisting of a supporting standard 11, provided with a stationary upper member or table 12. The table 12 is substantially square in form, and is provided at the center thereof with an opening 13. Disposed within the opening 13 is 'a bearing sleeve 14 which engages and supports 1 a rotatable sleeve member 15 which, in turn,

surrounds a relatively movable shaft .16.

Mounted upon the upper end of'the shaft 16' and rigidly connected thereto is a substan-' tially annular platform 17 Mounted upon the lower end of the shaft 16 is a piston member 18 which -moves within a cylinder 19 for a purpose to be hereinafter disclosed. Rigidly mounted upon the upper end of the sleeve member 15 1s a gear wheel 20, and

mounted upon the lower end thereof is a rigidly mounted gear wheel 21 of substantially equal diameter.

As bestillustrated in Fig. 2, the table or platform 17 is provided'with three arcuate substantially radiall extending slots 25. The supporting mem er or table 12 is provided at three equally spaced points thereon with openings 26 within which are disposed bearingsleeves 27, each of which engage and support a stub shaft 28. The upper end of the stub shafts 28 are each journaled in a suitable supporting member 29 which, inturn is mounted upon the supporting table 12. Mounted u 11 each of the stub shafts 28 and oscillatable ab ut the axis thereof is a member 30 of substantially sector shape. The side of the member 30 opposite the shaft 28 is arcuate in contour and is.provided with an arcuate rack 31 which meshes with the gear 20 mounted on the upper end of the sleeve 15, In one end of the rack 31 and secured thereto is disposed a supporting member 32' upon which a vertically disposed pin 33 is mounted. The

sides of the arcuate slots 25 in the member 17 1 represent arcs drawn from the axes of the several shafts 28, and the pins 33, which are mounted u on the member 30, move central- 1y within t e cooperating slot 25 upon rotation of the pinion 20. In the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the pins 33 are in theiruttermost or inactive position, and arecaused to move toward the center of the platform 17 by stationary shaft 37 which, in turn, is mounted 'on the supporting structure ll. Mounted upon the stationary shaft 37 is a cylinder 38, which'is provided on one side with a gear member 20 in one direc- On the lower;

so I

toothed rack 39 which meshes with the pinion 21 to actuate the pinion 20 and the'arms 33. The movable c linder 38 is actuated by the admission'o'f fiiiid pressure by means of a suitable controlling mechanism so as to move upon" the shaft 37. At one end of the shaft 37 is disposed a collar member 40, which limits themovement .of the cylinder 38 to any desired position, thus limitingthe movement of the arms 33. The osition of the collar member 40 on the sha t 37 may be adjusted 2y means of a suitable adjusting mechanism piston member 18 mounted upon the shaft 16 may beactuated by admission of suitable .AS best illustrated in Fig. 1, the movable fluid under pressure to the cylinder 19 to raise or lowerthe shaft 16, thus raising or lower ng the supporting member 17 relative to the arms 33.

and foruse in inserting airbags or'cores into flat built casings, I employ a carriermember 45 which consists of an upper or lower platform 46 and 47 respectively. The plate 47 is provided with three equally spaced substantially radially inwardly extending slots 48. Disposed on each side of each of the slots 48 is a rod 49 which extends through 'and 1s riveted at one end to the plate 46,

. In conjunction with the machinedescribed,

and at the other end to the plate 47. Mountedupon each of the. rods 49 is a sleeve or. roller member 50, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The plates 46 and 47 are provided with centrally" disposed openings 52 and 53 respectively, by means of which the carrier device 45 may be suitably centered when employed on the machine disclosed in my co-pending application previously referred to, but perform no service in connection with the present invention. The plates 46 and 47 are also each provided with three substantially radially inwardly extending slots 54, one purpose of which is to'span lugs 56 mounted on the member '17' to' insure the proper disposition of the member 45 on the member 17. The plate 46 is also provided with two spaced handles 55 suitably secured thereto, by means of which the member 45 may be carried about.

Although the present scribed in detail in connection with its applipneumatic tire casings,

cation to a flat built pneumatic tire caslng, the principle thereof may be equally well employed for inserting air bags in core built as will be pointed out. In practicing my invention, the tire suporting member 45 is first placed upon the platform 17 with the lugs' 56 projecting into the openings 54, as illustrated in Fig. 1. A substantially annular air bag 60 is then placed upon standards 61, mounted on the supporting platform 12 in such manner as to.

in the These pins engage the air bag and buckle it at three an endless flat built casing 62.

62 rests upon the platform 17 which is of such the air bag.

. in Fig. 4, and thereby engage equi-distant points, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 6. The inward movement pulls portions of the air bag over the rollers 50, which rollwith the'bag, thus reducing the friction therebetween to a minimum. The diameter, of-the pins 33 and the rollers are suflicient to prevent the formation of sharp creases in wardly until the cylinder 38 engages the collar member'40, thus limiting their movement. By reason of indenting the air bag 60 at three points, and drawing it overthe rollers 50, the over-all diameter thereof is decreased sufliciently to permit-of placing thereabout height with respect to the carrying member. 45 that the air bag 60 will be placed directly in the .center of the tread portion thereof.-

The casing is placed over the air bag manually soon as the casing has been properly ositioned over the air bag, the cylinder 38 ;is energized so as to cause the pins 33 to move outwardly, thus permitting the air bag best illustrated the pneumatic .tire casing,- causing it to become flattened out, as indicated at 62, at, the points at which the air bag is buckled. 18 is then suitably energized to cause the platform 17, together with its supported carrying member 45, to be raisedvertically, as illustrated in Figsto tend to. straighten out, as

33, As soon as the member 1 has been raised-sufliciently, the pins 33 are permitted to resume their outward invention isv de-N condition to be placed pins 31 to move inwardly in The pins move radially in-- openings in The casing member 72 to end of the The cylinder member operated either by hand or by foot, or elec- 7 and 8,'-raising it above the to s of the pins movement to their original positions. If desired, the cylinder 38 and the piston 18 may be actuated simultaneously to increase the speed of operation of the machine. I

After the member 17 has been raised to its uppermost position, the carrying member 45 is grasped by means of the handles and is removed from the platform .17. The d1- 7 ameter of the plates 46 and 47 of the member 45 are of but slightly less diameter than the casing disposed thereabout, and they, together with the roller members 77 have sufficient frictional contact with the air bag to permit of raising the carrying member' 45', the air bag 60 and the casing 62 as a unit. The member 45, together with its supported casing and air bag, are then in proper scribed in my co-pending application previously referred to.

After the carrying member 45 has been removed from the platform 17 the piston mem'- ber 18 is suitably energized to cause it to return to its original lower position, so that, with the arms 33 in their outermost position and the member 17 in its lowermost position,

on the machine dethe machine is then prepared to repeat the operation described on another, air bag and easing.

If desired, the operation of the cylinder 38 may be controlled bym'eans of a suitable fluid valve 70 which is provided at its upper end with an actuating handle 71 which actuates a movable-valve member 72. The valve 70 is connected with an inlet pipe 73 and an exhaust pipe 74. 'In the position indicated in Fig. 8, the 70 through the inlet pipe 73 under pressure to a suitable passageway 75, through suitable the valve member 72 to a pipe or connection 76, which permits of the introactuating fluid enters the valve duction of the fluid to the cylinder'38. The

opposite end of the cylinder 38 is connected to a pipe 77 through suitable passageways in the valve the exhaust pipe 74. When the handle 71 is moved to its uppermost position, the fluid connections are reversed so that the 'inlet pipe 73 is connected directly to the pipe 77, and the pipe 76, connected to the opposite cylinder 38, is in open communica tion with the exhaust pipe 7 4. By a similar arrangement, a valve 80 is connected to the inlet anc'lthe exhaust pipe 73 and 74 respectively, and is connected to the upper end of the cylinder 19 by means of a pipe 81, and to the lower end thereof by means of a pi e 82. The valves 70 and 80'may, ofcourse, e

vention for inserting air bags into core built cas ngs, the carrying member 45 1s dlspensed which, in turn, is connected.

withusing my present in with. An air bag 60 is disposed upon a supporting member 61 and the arms or pins 33 are moved inwardly simultaneously, thus buckling the bag at three points. The overall diameter of the bag is thereby reduced to slightly greater than the over-all diameter of the -beads of the core built casing. The

annular form within the casing and fit snugly therein. In connection with the insertion of air bags into core built tire casin s,the mechanism 19 adapted for raising or owering the platform 17 may be employed, if desired, or

- may be dis nsed with as the tire casing with its inserte tube may belifted directly from.

the platform 17 without difiiculty. It is sometimes desirable, in connection with the insertion of air bags into core built casings, to have the platform 17 disposed in a substan- .tially vertical plane, with the remainder of the operation of the machine substantially identical. 4

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that I have provided a machine equally ada ted for the insertion of air bags into flat built tire casings and into core built pneumatic tire casin s. Also, that by means of this machine, the injury to the ba caused by buckling thereof is materially red uced, as no sharp creases are made therein by reason of the diameter of the pins 33 and the roller members that the amount of labor necessary for inserting such bags into the casing 'is materially reduced; and that the lengt of time required for inserting such air bag into a casing is considerably less than when 45 the same operation is performed manually.

Although I have disclosed but a' single form of my invention, and have described in detail but two applications thereof, it will .be apparent to those skilled in the art that my lnvention is not so limited but that many modifications and changes may be made therein without de arting from the spirit of my invention or fi'om the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In the manufacture of pneumatic tire casings, the method of inserting an annulus therein which comprises indenting the annulus at a plurality of spaced points prior to Dlacing the tire casing thereover.

. 2. In the manufacture of pneumatic tire casings, the method of inserting an annulus therein which comprises indenting the annulus at a plurality of equally spaced points prior to inserting it within the casing.

spaced substantially 3. In the manufacture of pneumatic tire casings, the method of insertin' an annular air bag therein which comprises uckling the annulus inwardly at three equidistance points prior to assemblin the casing therewith.

. 4. In the manufacture of pneumatic tire casings, the method of inserting an annulus therein which comprisesindenting the annulus at a plurality of points, placing the tire casing-thereover, and-removing the indentations from the annulus. I v

5. In the manufacture ofpneumatic tire casings,--'the method of inse'rtmg an annulus .therein which comprises indenting the annulus at three equidistant points, placing the casing over the distorted annulus, and permitting the annulusto return to annuluar contour.

6. In the manufacture of pneumatic tire casings, the method of inserting a pneumatic core therein which comprises causing a plurality of points on the core to bemoved inwardly simultaneously, placing the distorted core Within a tire casing, and permitting the coreto again assume an annular contour.

7. A machine for facilitating the assemblage of annular pneumatic cores within pneumatic tire casings which comprises indenting the cores at a plurality its original bags withinv pneumatic tire casings which comprises means for indenting'the air bags at a plurality of equally spaced points simultaneously.

10. A machine for assembling annular air bags within pneumatic tire casings which comprises means for moving a plurality of equally spaced points on the bags inwardly simultaneously.

11. A machine for" assembling annular flexible air bags within pneumatic tire caslngs comprising a 12. A machine for assembling annular plurality of regularly radially movable arms, and power actuated means for moving said arms inwardly and outwardly.

flexible air bags within pneumatic tire casings comprising a plurality of regularly spaced'pivotally mounted arms each provided with an arcuate rack member, mounted pinion in engagement with said rack -members, and power actuated means for rotating said pinion in either direction.

'13. A machine for assembling annular flexible air bags within pneumatic tire casings comprising a plurality of regularly spaced pivotally mounted arms each provided with an arcuate rack member, a centrally mounted pinion in engagement with said rack a centrally pivotally pivotally mounted an arcuate rack member,'a centrally mounted cylinder provided members, and power actuated means for .tating said pinion a predetermined number of revolutions in either direction.

j 14, A m achine for assembling annular. flexible airibags within pneumatic. tire casings comprising a plurality of.regularly spaced mounted arms each provided with an arcuate ra'ck member, a centrally mounted pinion inengagement with "said rack-members, and fluid operated cooperatingpiston and cylinder provided with a rack'disposed in engagement with said pinion to operate the same.-

15, A machine for assembling annular flex-' ible air bags within pneumatic tire casings comprising aplurality of regularly spaced arms each provided with inion in engagement with said rackmemers a fluid operated cooperating piston and with a rack disposed in engagement with said pinion to operate the same, and means for limitng the movement of comprising a plurality flexible airbags within pneumatic tire cas-Y' an arcuate rack member,

ings comprising means for disposingthe bag w1th1n the casing, and means for removing the bag and the casing from the machine.

18. A machine .for assembling annular flexible air bags within pneumatic tire casings comprising means for buckling the bag so as to reduce its diameter, means for centering the bag with respect to the casing, and

power actuated means for forcing the casing and bag from the machine as a unit.

19. A machine for assembling annular flexible airbags Within pneumatic tire casings comprising a plurality of symmetrically disposed arms adapted to move inwardly simultaneously, tobuckle the'bag, a member disposed adjacent said arms and adapted to support the tire casing, power actuated means for causing said arms to move inwardly or outwardly, and power actuated means for moving said casing support'so as to remove the bag from the arms and release the casing and the bag from the machine as a unit. '20. In a machine for inserting airbags into pneumatic tire casings, a bag support comprising two substantially circular plates in spaced relatively stationary posi disposed with a plutions, said plates being provided of regularly spaced periphery of the air rality of spaced aligned substantially radiall extending slots, and roller members exten in between said plates and disposed on each si e of said slots adjacent the periphery of said plates. Y

21. Apparatus comprising, means for collapsing a pressure in combination, bag, and means for supporting a tire to receive the collapsed bag.

22. Apparatus'ofthe class described com: prising means for collapsing a pressure bag, and means thereon for supporting a tire to receive the collapsed bag.

23. A device of the character described comprising a support for a bag, means to fold a portion of the bag inwardlywith respect to its normal perimeter and means to position a tire casing relative to the so-folded bag.

24. Apparatus ofthe class'described comprising a-plurality of active presser elements,

and means for operating the elements to collapse a pressure bag heldthereby.

25.- Apparatus comprising means for supporting a pressure bag, means for supporting a tire with one portion below'thefirst supporting means, the bag on the first supporting means.

26. A device of the class described comprising means for supporting a bag and means for folding a portion'of the bag inwardly in the plane of the bag preparatory to the insertion of said bag in a-tire casing' 27. A device of the class described comprisin means for engaginga bag at the part to be olded, and means for moving said engaging means in a direction to move the engaged part in the original plane of the bagtoward the part opposite thereof.

28. A device of the class described comprising means for supporting a bag and means for engaging a portion of the outer periphery of the bag to fold said portion inwardly into the plane of the bag preparatory to inserting the bag in fr'olded condition in a casing.

29. A device of the class described comprising means for supporting a bag and rigid means for folding a portion of the bag inand means for collapsing wardly'in theplane of thebag preparatory to the insertion of the bag in a tire casing.

30,. A machine of the character described, comprising a'plurality of shoes divided into two sets, one of said sets comprising a support for the inner periphery of the air bag, the other set being arranged about the outer bag, and means to move the last named set of shoes toward and from the center of .the machineiwhereby the bag is collapsed between the shoes.

31. In a device of the class described, a support, a plurality of pins projecting from other, said pins arranged in spaced relation around the circumference of a circle to receive an annular tube therebetween, certain "said support in parallel relation to, each my name.

of said pins movable inwardly to position the same in spaced relation around the circumfere'nce 0 a smaller circle, a back plate mounted on said support, said backplate provided with openings through which said pins project and means to move said back plate longitudinally of said pins.

32. In a device of .the class described, a

support, a plurality of pins projecting fromsald support in parallelrelation to each other,

said p1ns arranged in spaced relation around the circumference of a circle to receive an annular tube therebetween, certain of said pins being movable to points in spaced relation around a smaller circle, means to move said pins and means operable to force a tube outwardly beyond the ends of said pins.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed ELOV F. MAAS. 

